Flushing device for operating tables



Oct. 21, 1958 J. 1.. DORNAN 2,856,670

FLUSHING DEVICE FOR OPERATING TABLES Filed Aug. 9, 1956 IN VENTOR JAMES L. DORNAN wgum ORNEY Unit This invention relates to mortuary equipment and more particularly to a flushing device for use in connection with the operating tables normally employed by undertakers during embalming and similar operations.

During embalming and similar operations, foreign material, such as blood and the like, collects on the surface of the operating table and must be flushed therefrom. Heretofore, flushing devices have been provided, but these have not proven particularly satisfactory from the standpoint of convenience, cost and efliciency and these prior art flushing devices have, in general, been provided as integral parts of the operating table thereby materially increasing the cost thereof, or have been provided as attachments which sprayed fluid from opposite sides of the table, but which were not particularly satisfactory in flushing foreign material therefrom. There have also efficiency and necessitating frequent replacement or adjustment.

During embalming and similar operations, it is customary for the undertaker to utilize a so-called head block for supporting the head of the corpse in a more or less natural position and briefly stated, this invention contemplates the use of such head block to support a flushing device which will operate to direct ally of the head block in order to efliciently flush foreign material from the surface of the table. The invention further contemplates the provision of a combination head block and flushing device and it will be seen that the device is firmly held in place on the surface of the operating table and that all foreign material is efficiently flushed therefrom.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a flushing device for undertakers operating tables which may be conveniently and economically constructed from readily available materials and utilized in connection with conventional head blocks to provide a convenient and eflicient flushing device.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a flushing device for undertakers operating tables which may be conveniently applied to or removed from conventional head blocks and supported thereon during embalming or similar operations.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a flushing device for undertakers operating tables which may be conveniently applied to conventional head blocks and held in place thereon during embalming operations and may be conveniently removed therefrom for subsequent cleaning, in order to maintain the same in a sanitary condition.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a flushing device for undertakers operating tables which may be conveniently applied to or removed from cnventional head blocks merely by manipulating a threaded sleeve to clamp the device to the block thereby eliminating the necessity for providing special or other tools for assembling the device with a head block.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a flushing device for undertakers operating tables which may be conveniently attached to a conventional head States Patent 0 block and the block positioned at any desired location on the surface of the operating table and serving to hold the flushing device in position during an embalming or other operation.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a combined head block and flushing device in which passages are provided in the head block for a flushing fluid, together with means for directing such fluid to the surface of the operating table.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in con' junction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective showing the flushing device of this invention attached to a conventional head block and with such head block shown in dotted outline;

Fig. 2 an elevational view of the flushing device of this invention and with parts in section for greater clarity;

Fig. 3 a fragmentary top plan view of an. undertakers operating table with the head block and flushing device of this invention in position thereon;

Fig. 4 an elevational view of a modified form of the invention and showing a combination head block and flushing device; and

Fig. 5 a sectional 55 of Fig. 4.

With continued reference to the drawing and particularly Fig. 2, there is shown a flushing device constructed in accordance with this invention and which may Well an elongated tube 10 which is provided at the rear end 11 with a fitting 12 for receiving a conduit, such as a rubber tube or the like, to supply fluid to the tube 10. The fitting 12 may be attached to the tube 10 by a drive fit, as shown, or may be attached thereto by a threaded connection or any other desired means. The tube 10 terminates at the opposite end in a T fitting 13 and extending from opposite sides of the fitting 13 at substantially right angles to the tube 10 are pipes 14 and 15. Pipe 14 terminates at the outer end in a rearwardly extending portion 16 and as shown, this portion 16 is closed at the rear end by any suitable means, such as a plug 17. In a similar manner, the pipe 15 terminates at the outer end in a rearwardly extending portion 18 and this portion is likewise closed at the rear end by a plug 19 or any other suitable means. It is to be noted, that the rearwardly extending portions 16 and 18 are disposed substantially parallel to the tube 10. The pipe 14 is provided with an aperture 20 and also with an aperture 21 adjacent the bend 22 and the rearwardly extending portions 16 is provided with an aperture 23. In a similar manner, the pipe 15 is provided with an aperture 24 and another aperture 25 adjacent the bend 26 and rearwardly extending portion 18 -is provided with an aperture 27. The apertures 20 and 24 are so positioned in the pipes 14 and 15 as to direct a stream of fluid downwardly and forwardly, while the apertures 21 and 25 direct streams of fluid downwardly and outwardly and the apertures 23 and 27 direct streams of fluid downwardly and laterally of the tube 10.

The tube 10 is provided intermediate the length there of, with external screw threads 28 and threadedly received on such screw threads 23 for longitudinal movement on the tube in is a threaded sleeve 29. The sleeve 29 is provided adjacent the forward end thereof with a reduced portion 2% which serves to rotatably receive a clamping bar 31 extending transversely of the sleeve 29. The clamping bar 31 abuts a shoulder 32 provided by the reduced portion 343 and engaging the forward surface 33 of the clamping bar 31 is a washer 34 which is held in place by upsetting the forward end of the sleeve 29, as shown at 35. This serves to rotatably mount the clamping bar 31 on the sleeve 29 and consequently, the clamping bar 31 may be moved longitudinally of the view taken substantially on the line tube and in either direction by rotating the sleeve 29 which may be facilitated by a knurled surface 36 provided thereon. The clamping bar 31 may be provided at its opposite ends with forwardly extending ears 37 and 38, thepurpose of which will be presently described and also the clamping bar 31' may be reinforced by a rearwardly extending flange 39 extending substantially throughout the length thereof.

During embalming operations, it is customary for an undertaker to utilize a head block 40, which as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 1, may take the form of the head block disclosed and claimed in Patent No. 1,973,240, issued September 11, 1934, but it is to be understood, that such head block forms nopart of the instant invention and is only described insofar as 'it is necessary to relate the flushing device of this invention thereto. The head block 40 may be provided with inwardly curved sidewalls 41 and .42 and with inwardly curved top and bottom walls 43 and 4-4, as well as in wardly curved front and rear .walls 45 and .46 which result in providing a reduced portion 47 connecting the sidewalls 41 and 42. It is to be noted, that the curved front wall 45 terminates in substantially flat front surfaces 48 and 49 .extending between the ends of the curved front wall 45 and the curved sidewalls 41 and 42 and in a similar manner, the curved bottom .wall 44 terminates at the opposite ends in substantially flat bottom surfaces 50 and 51 which may rest on an operating table or other surface to support the block 4th thereon. The curved rear wall 46.:also terminates in substantially flat rear surfaces .52 and 53 and the upper .curved surface 43 terminates in substantiallyflat top surfaces 54 and 55.

Inutilizing the flushing device of this invention, it is only necessary, as shown in Fig. 1, to position the same on the head block 40 with the pipes 14 and 15 engaging the flat front surfaces 48 and 49 and with the rearwardly extending portions 16 and 18 disposed in spaced relation to the .curved opposite sidewalls 41 and 42 of the block 49. The tube 10 extends rearwardly beneath the reduced connecting portion 47 and through the recess provided by the curved bottom wall 44 and the clamping bar 31 engages the rear flat surfaces 52 and 53 on the block 4!) with the cars 37 and 38 disposed in engagement with the curved sidewalls 42 and 41 respectively. The clamping bar .31 is, of course, moved into clamping engagement with the fiat surfaces 52 and 53 of the block 40 by manipulation ,of the threaded sleeve 29. .As shown in Fig. 1, this will operate to securely clamp the flushing device in place on the head block 40.

Thereafter, the head block 40 may be disposed at any desired location on the surface 56 of an operating table 57, which, as shown in Fig. 3, is provided with an outer upstanding rim 58 and a trough 59 extending entirely around the table between the rim 58 and the operating surface 56. Also provided in the upper surface 56 of the table 57 are diagonally extending grooves 60 and 61 extending from the central portion of the table outwardly to the trough 59 and as shown, the flushing device carried by the head block 40 will direct streams of fluid, as shown by the dotted lines 62 to flush foreign material from the surface 56 of the table 57 into the grooves ,60 and 61 and into the trough 59. It is, of course, assumed that a conduit, such as a rubber tube or the like 63, will be connected to the fitting 12 on the tube 10 to supply a flushing fluid thereto.

A modified form of the invention is shown in Figs. 4 and 5 in which there is provided a head block 64 of substantially the same configuration as the head block 40 described above and in this form of the invention, the flushing device is combined with the head block. As shown, a bore 65 extends transversely through the block 64 and is closed at the opposite ends by plugs 66 and 67 or by any other suitable means and disposed in the rear wall 68 of the block 64 is a tube 69 communicating with the bore 65 and provided at its rear end with a fitting 70 to receive a tube or other conduit for providing flushing fluid thereto. The block 64 is provided with substantially flat lower supporting surfaces 71 and 72 and with substantially flat front surfaces 73 and 74. Extending from the front surfaces 73 and 74 in a downwardly and forwardly direction are pipes 75 and 76 which extend into the block and communicate with the bore 65 with the outer ends of the pipes 75 and 76 terminating above the supporting surfaces 71 and 72 of the block 64. The use of this form of the invention is similar to that described above, in that, the block 64 is disposed at any desired location on the surface of the operating table and a tube or suitable conduit is connected to the fitting 70 to provide a flushing fluid to the tube 69, the bore 65 and the pipes 75 and 76. This will result in directing streams of flushing fluid downwardly and forwardly to the surface of the operating table in order to flush foreign material therefrom.

While the first form of the invention was described as having clamping means for securing the flushing device to a head block, nevertheless, it will be obvious, that if desired, the tube 10,1nay extend through an aperture in the connecting portion 47 of the head block 40 and the device secured thereto, either by a frictional engagement or by a clamping nut or other means engaging the curved rear wall 46 of the block 41 However, the device is preferably applied as described above.

It will be obvious that by the above described invena tion, there has been provided a relatively simple and economical, yet highly efficient flushing device for the operating tables -,commo,nly employed by undertakers. and one which may be conveniently located where .desired and firmly held in place during operations. The device may also be conveniently removed for cleaning purposes and thereafter stored in any desired location until the necessityv for further use arises.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is shownin the drawing and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A flushing device for attachment to the head block normally used on an undertakers operating table, said block having inwardly curved opposite sidewalls and inwardly curved top, bottom, front and rear walls providing a reducedpor-tion connecting saidsidewalls, said device comprising an elongated tube terminating at the rear end in means for attaching a conduit for supplying fluid to said tube and terminating at the forward end in a T fitting, pipes extending from opposite sides of said T fitting at substantially right angles to said tube, said pipes terminating at their outer ends in rearwardly extending portions disposed substantially parallel to said tube with the ends of said rearwardly extending portions closed, a sleeve threadedly received on said tube for longitudinal movement, a clamping bar rotatably carried by said sleeve and extending transversely of said tube and forwardly extending ears on the opposite end of said clamping bar whereby said device may be secured to said head block with said pipes engaging the front surface of said block and said rearwardly extending portions disposed in spaced substantially parallel relation to said sidewalls, said tube extending through the recess provided by said curved bottom wall, said clamping bar engaging the rear surface of said block and said ears engaging said curved sidewalls to clamp said device in place on said block and said pipes and said rearwardly extending portions having apertures for directing streams of fluid downwardly and forwardly and downwardly and laterally when said block and device is disposed on the surface of an operating table to flush foreign material therefrom.

2. A flushing device for attachment to the head block normally used on an undertakers operating table, said block having inwardly curved opposite sidewalls and inwardly curved top, bottom, front and rear walls providing a reduced portion connecting said sidewalls, said device comprising an elongated tube terminating at the rear end in means for attaching a conduit for supplying fluid to said tube, pipes extending from opposite sides of said tube at the forward end at substantially right angles to said tube, said pipes terminating at their outer ends in rearwardly extending portions disposed at substantially parallel to said tube with the ends of said rearwardly extending portions closed, a sleeve threadedly received on said tube for longitudinal movement, a clamping bar rotatably carried by said sleeve and extending transversely of said tube and forwardly extending ears on the opposite ends of said clamping bar whereby said device may be secured to said head block with said pipes engaging the front surface of said block and said rearwardly extending portions disposed in spaced substantially parallel relation to said sidewalls, said tube extending through the recess provided by said curved bottom wall, said clamping bar engaging the rear surface of said block and said ears engaging said curved sidewalls to clamp said device in place on said block and said pipes and said rearwardly extending portions having apertures for directing streams of fluid downwardly and forwardly and downwardly and laterally when said block and device is disposed on the surface of an operating table to flush foreign material therefrom.

3. A flushing device for attachment to the head block normally used on an undertakers operating table, said block having inwardly curved opposite sidewalls and inwardly curved top, bottom, front and rear walls providing a reduced portion connecting said sidewalls, said device comprising an elongated tube terminating at the rear end in means for attaching a conduit for supplying fluid to said tube, pipes extending from opposite sides of said tube at the forward end at substantially right angles to said tube, said pipes terminating at their outer ends in rearwardly extending portions disposed substantially parallel to said tube, a sleeve threadedly received on said tube for longitudinal movement, a clamping bar rotatably carried by said sleeve and extending transversely of said tube and forwardly extending ears on the opposite ends of said clamping bar whereby said device may be secured to said head block with said pipes engaging the front surface of said block and said rearwardly extending portions disposed in spaced substantially parallel relation to said sidewalls, said tube extending through the recess provided by said curved bottom wall, said clamping bar engaging the rear surface of said block and said ears engaging said curved sidewall to clamp said device in place on said block and said pipes and said rearwardly extending portions having apertures for directing streams of fluid downwardly and forwardly and downwardly and laterally when said block and device is disposed on the surface of an operating table to flush foreign material therefrom.

4. A flushing device for attachment to the head block normally used on an undertakers operating table, said block having inwardly curved opposite sidewalls and inwardly curved top, bottom, front and rear walls providing a reduced portion connecting said sidewalls, said device comprising an elongated tube terminating at the rear end in means for attaching a conduit for supplying fluid to said tube, pipes extending from opposite sides of said tube adjacent the forward end at substantially right angles to said tube, said pipes terminating at their outer ends in rearwardly extending portions disposed substantially parallel to said tube, a sleeve threadedly received on said tube for longitudinal movement and a clamping bar rotatably carried by said sleeve and extending transversely of said tube whereby said device may be secured to said head block with said pipes engaging the front surface of said block and said rearwardly extending portions disposed in substantially parallel relation to said sidewalls, said tube extending through the recess provided by said curved bottom wall, said clamping bar engaging the rear surface of said block to clamp said device in place on said block and said pipes and said rearwardly extending portions having apertures for directing streams of fluid downwardly and forwardly and downwardly and laterally when said block and device is disposed on the surface of an operating table to flush foreign material therefrom.

5. A flushing device for attachment to the head block normally used on an undertakers operating table, said block having inwardly curved opposite sidewalls and inwardly curved top, bottom, front and rear walls providing a reduced portion in connecting said sidewalls, said device comprising an elongated tube terminating at the rear end in means for attaching a conduit for supplying fluid to said tube, pipes extending from opposite sides of said tube adjacent the forward end at substantially right angles to said tube, said pipes terminating at their outer ends in rearwardly extending portions disposed substantially parallel to said tube, a clamping bar carried by said tube and extending transversely thereof and means to move said clamping bar longitudinally of said tube whereby said device may be secured to said head block with said pipes engaging the front surface of said block and said rearwardly extending portions disposed in substantially parallel relation to said sidewalls, said tube extending through the recess provided by said curved bottom wall, said clamping bar engaging the rear surface of said block to clamp said device in place on said block and said pipes and said rearwardly extending portions having apertures for directing streams of fluid downwardly and forwardly and downwardly and laterally when said block and device is disposed on the surface of an operating table to flush foreign material therefrom.

6. A flushing device for attachment to the head block normally used on an undertakers operating table, said block having inwardly curved opposite sidewalls and inwardly curved top, bottom, front and rear walls providing a reduced portion connecting said sidewalls, said device providing an elongated tube terminating at the rear end in means for attaching a conduit for supplying fluid to said tube, pipes extending from opposite sides of said tube adjacent the forward end at substantially right angles to said tube, a clamping bar carried by said tube and extending transversely thereof and means to move said clamping bar longitudinally of said tube whereby said device may be secured to said head block with said pipes engaging the front surface of said block, said tube extending through the recess provided by said curved bottom wall, said clamping bar engaging the rear surface of said block to clamp said device in place on said block and said pipes having apertures for directing streams of fluid downwardly and forwardly when said block and device is disposed on the surface of an operating table to flush foreign material therefrom.

7. A flushing device for attachment to the head block normally used on an undertakers operating table, said device comprising an elongated tube terminating at the rear end in means for attaching a conduit for supplying fluid to said tube, pipes extending from opposite sides of said tube adjacent the forward end at substantially right angles to said tube, means for securing said device to said head block and said pipes having apertures for directing streams of fluid downwardly and forwardly when said block and device is disposed on the surface of an operating table to flush foreign material therefrom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,900,255 Ormsbee Mar. 7, 1933 2,576,870 Wright Nov. 27, 1951 2,631,062 Tiedemaun et a1. Mar. 10, 1953 

